Sound of My Voice

This movie wants you to play a game. You’ll enter when the main characters will enter and see all they get to see, plus a little bit more because this is a friendly game. The game is to figure out if she is telling the truth. She is named Maggie. She says she’s from the future. Is she?

Peter and Lorna aren’t so sure. Maggie remains a complete mystery and the only way to get close to her is to join her cult. It is a cult full of secrets and tests and complete devotion. Devotion to the belief, devotion to the secret handshakes, devotion towards complete vulnerability and commitment. Peter and Lorna know this is a dangerous cult preying upon the weak so they plan to uncover it with a documentary.

Like any good game, both sides need a proper chance. There is plenty of evidence that says that Maggie is a fraud while there is enough evidence to say you need more evidence.

The movie is not a very long game. That’s usually a criticism with video games, but with movies it’s nice when the story doesn’t drag itself out. With the case of “Sound of My Voice” it especially doesn’t feel long because the game ends when the movie ends. There are a few loose ends that can be pieced together after the final scene, but you really just need the time allotted by the credits.

Any lingering effect you’ll have with the movie is that there was a fun time to be had. There’s not much more to the movie, especially not its attempt to examine the deeper struggles of its characters. The most compelling will always be the ones we know less about.

In terms of pure plot, “Sound of My Voice” works. The pacing is deliberate and unnerving. All of the twists appear at just the right moment to keep enough people guessing. When they do have to give a little bit of answers, the filmmakers are mature enough to do it in a visual way instead of an awkward exposition dump.

The game isn’t the most challenging, but that doesn’t stop it from being fun. It probably could have worked even better as a short film, but how it is makes for an enjoyable little story.

4 Yaps

http://www.thefilmyap.com/2012/05/16/sound-of-my-voice/

The Avengers

Okay, I’m not the biggest fan of superhero movies. I’ve liked most of what I’ve seen, but never thought they were the greatest movies on their own. Too often it felt like appeasing fans that were already fans of these characters, instead of creating dynamic movies to make new fans. The first time I saw a superhero movie really break from the dull plot formula was “X2: X-Men United.” Then “The Dark Knight” really destroyed the mold with a movie that was fantastic on its own.

“The Avengers” is now the first Marvel movie to join that club. In a gutsy move by the studio, they’ve spent years making movies to set up characters and franchises to all come together for this epic collaboration. This could have messed up a trillion different ways, but Marvel put its faith in someone very smart: Joss Whedon.

Marvel has had plenty of good storytellers before like Jon Faverau and Kenneth Branaugh, but their movies (“Iron Man 2” and “Thor”) never completely gelled and had fill-in-the-blank plots that are too familiar with these movies. Whedon was given enough time to really work out the story and…wait for it…actually write a damn good screenplay.

“The Avengers” rocks with its creative and fan-filled moments of action awesomeness. Yet after having spent a few days thinking about it, that’s not at all what I’m thinking about. The reason people are so pumped for this movie is because of the characters. It’s not seeing what is going to destroy New York this time, but it’s seeing Iron Man and Thor and Captain America all in the same frame. It could have been a movie where they all take turns punching the villain, but instead Whedon really focuses on the dynamic of this illogical team.

The way the film pairs certain characters up and has them challenge each other is what makes this a great movie. Whedon knows these heroes so well that it is never just a costume. There are elements that make Captain America, Captain America and that’s why we like him. I didn’t mind his movie last year, but it felt like every other origin story. This was the first time that I really found myself liking and rooting for people like the Captain or Bruce Banner (The Hulk). It wasn’t just the actors and the action; it was a wonderful introspective of how they all function (or often not function).

Everything else just rocks. The movie is hilarious from beginning to end with so many wonderful one-liners and visual gags. The action is bold and exciting. Even during the movie chaotic moments, the story is so focused on making sure it’s an ensemble so every one of the core team is doing something vital at every moment.

This is what all superhero movies should be. It’s a celebration of the characters that have endured for so many years with a story worthy of all of their power. It’s still shocking…they really did it.

The Deep Blue Sea

Throughout The Deep Blue Sea, it feels like Hester Collyer should be apologizing for something. Her emotions have driven her to different places, often hurting people in the process. Yet her real fault is her passion.

At first she is in a loveless marriage to an older judge with a mother who would fit right in with Maggie Smith on Downton Abbey, but without the charm. Then Hester finds a Royal Air Force pilot that excites her on a more carnal and romantic level than her husband ever has.

As if it was a beautiful dance, writer/director Terence Davies and actress Rachel Weisz make Hester’s story something beyond a period piece romance but a sympathetic tale of confusion and love. The film is shown through a glorious lens that betrays logic by making some of the saddest things look like a moment of hope.

Why is Hester wrong for trying to go with her emotions? That’s what all romantic comedies do where the lead realizes they must follow their true love. Yet in reality there is more at stake where attempting to do such a thing will leave you vulnerable and hurt.

The Deep Blue Sea appears deceptively simple but challenges how pursuits should attempted through very confident storytelling. Well recommended.